环球英语 — 28：Listener Mail 72

　　Voice 1

Thank you for joining us for today’s Spotlight 1 program. I’m Joshua Leo.

Voice 2

And I’m Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

Voice 1

What do Konsam, Augusto, and Evelin all have in common? They all wrote to us! In this week’s listener mail program we will hear from each of these listeners. Let’s get started!

Voice 2

Our first letter today is from Konsam in India. Konsam heard our program about cicadas. These loud insects spend much of their lives underground. Some kinds of this insect even live underground for seventeen [17] years! After this time, the cicada comes up from the ground. Its body changes. It finds a mate 2. And it lays new eggs. It is almost as if the cicada has a new life! It is a very special and exciting time when cicadas come up from the ground.

Voice 1

Well, Konsam writes to us about an experience HE thinks is similar! Konsam writes:

Voice 3

“Hi. Cicadas live underground for only seventeen [17] years.

But I have lived thirty [30] years without listening to your Spotlight radio program. Very impressive 3!”

Voice 2

Konsam, we LOVED your joke! That is very clever! We are really happy you found the program after so many years. And we hope that you do not have to wait ANOTHER thirty [30] years to listen to more Spotlight programs!

Voice 1

Konsam also had a serious question, about a different program. He writes:

Voice 3

“I listened to the program “Deadly Allergies 4.” As I am allergic 5 to peanuts, you guys showed me how to deal with this allergy 6. Your programs are very useful to me.”

Voice 2

Konsam, we are really happy that the program helped you! An allergy is an unusual reaction to a common substance. Sometimes this reaction can simply be unpleasant or unlikable. For example, a person’s skin may feel hot or uncomfortable. But sometimes an allergy can be more - it can be deadly. People may have very severe allergies. And they may not even know it! Many people do not know a lot about allergies. So, in the “Deadly Allergies” program we shared information about allergies.

Voice 1

Konsam, as you probably know, the most important thing is to avoid peanuts. It is also important to avoid any product made from peanuts. For some people, this even includes avoiding foods cooked in peanut oil. But if you do have any questions about your allergy, you should go to a doctor or health worker. They can give you more details about your condition. We wish you luck in managing your peanut allergy! And thanks for writing!

Voice 2

You KNOW what that sound means! It’s time for the Spotlight Language Hodgepodge. In today’s Hodgepodge we will say a tongue twister. This one is even a very useful tongue twister! It can help you practice saying English words. But it may also cheer you up! Are you are experiencing any bad weather right now? Maybe you could keep this tongue twister in mind.

We surely shall see the sun shine soon.

I will say it again just a little faster.

We surely shall see the sun shine soon.

I will try it one more time even faster!

We surely shall see the sun shine soon.

If you would like to see or hear this tongue twister again, you can visit our website. Go to http://www.radio.English.net. Click on the ‘Listen and Read’ page. From there, you can find this script 7, “Listener Mail 72.” That is all for today’s Spotlight Language Hodgepodge. Let’s get back to answering your mail!

Voice 1

Recently, Spotlight released 8 a program called “Hitting Children.” In this program we told about a new law in a town in New Zealand. This law says that parents cannot punish their children by hitting them.

Voice 2

Many parents there do not agree with the new law. They believe that hitting children is a good and effective form of punishment.

Voice 1

Other parents and some family groups agree with the law. They say there are better ways to deal with children. And it seems like Spotlight listeners also agree with the new law! We shared one e-mail in the last listener mail program. But this week, Augusto and Evelin also wrote to Spotlight about “Hitting Children”. Augusto wrote:

Voice 3

“My opinion about the program is that I support the new law. It is important the children do not receive hits for a punishment. In my country, Ecuador, you cannot hit children but nearly all parents do this kind of punishment. It is horrible. This program was very interesting.”

Voice 2

Evelin agreed. She also pointed 9 out that when people hit their children, they are also TEACHING 10 their children. She writes:

Voice 4

“Our behaviours come from home. Hitting children is not the best way to show children they are wrong. Children do not learn this way. Hitting children only teaches the child that hitting is the best way.”

Voice 1

Many experts agree with this opinion. But, if it is unacceptable to hit, what can parents do to punish their children when they do NOT behave? Evelin wrote to us about some of HER ideas:

Voice 4

“Parents can speak with the children. They can show children another way to solve the problem. They can say, for example, ‘Today we will not go to the zoo because you are being punished.’ We have a lot of examples of how to punish our children in the right way.”

Voice 2

Thank you very much, Evelin. These are great ways to punish a child with patience, kindness, respect, and understanding.

Voice 1

Correcting a child’s behaviour is very important. But sometimes, when a child does not behave, a parent may become angry. The parent may then react out of anger. This can lead to hitting a child because of this anger. Experts say that parents should NEVER hit a child out of anger.

Voice 2

Experts say that it is important for parents to be firm, but kind. They should not threaten their children. And if a parent is too angry to deal with a problem, he can even tell the child: “I am too angry to deal with this right now. We will talk about it later.” This can help a parent to calm down. He can take time to think of a fitting 11 punishment. Using methods like these teaches children that they do not need to use violence to solve their problems. Instead, they can stay calm and think about a better way to solve the problem.

Voice 1

There is much more to say on this subject, but that is all the time we have for today. What do you think? Write your questions and comments to Spotlight at radio @ english.net. Thank you especially to Konsam, Augusto, and Evelin for writing to us.